Pesticide regulatory changes

Pesticide regulatory changes

Several insecticides have been banned by the EPA on the ground of their high toxicity to human health or the environment, and the EPA will phase out others used for plant and crop protection.

The EPA has withdrawn approval for insecticides or formulations containing 10 of the active ingredients approved until now. Seven others, including diazinon, are to be phased out over a period of up to 15 years. Controls on the use of the other substances (except for fenitothion and phorate, for which the current controls won't be changed) are to be tightened in two years (start date 1 July 2015). If you, or your staff, apply pesticide to pasture, make sure you check out the new controls.

The EPA now intends to review the use of organophosphates and carbamates in veterinary products such as sheep dips.

A summary table showing the outcomes for the pesticides that drystock farmers typically use is shown below.